Military auto news

Video: Chinese military truck shows off its all-terrain chops

The Chinese automotive industry is an emerging force. Never mind all the foreign automakers setting up joint ventures in the world's most populous country, or the recognized European marques being gobbled up by Chinese conglomerates. The Chinese domestic brands are also capable of making serious vehicles with serious capabilities. Like this off-road military truck, for example.

Built by Wuhan-based Xiaolong Automotive, the XLW2090 is one of a dozen or so configurations the company builds on an adaptable chassis. The three-axle off-road truck packs a 4.5-liter Cummins four-cylinder diesel engine, over 17 inches of ground clearance, a 55.5-degree approach angle and a claimed 7,700-pound payload. That's all well and fine, but what really impresses us is what it can do when the road gets more than a little bumpy. Follow the jump to watch the brief video clip.

Continue reading Chinese military truck shows off its all-terrain chops

Report: Humvee reborn on the battlefield... with a chimney?!

The military's High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), better known to most of us as the Humvee, has already served a long and distinguished career in the battlefield, and there have been a number of replacements waiting in the wings to take over where the HMMWV left off. Or, should we say, leaves off... assuming that ever happens.

It seems that the Humvee is set to get a new lease on life as military budget constraints are forcing the government to reconsider its replacement. But there are still some pesky safety issues to work out before American soldiers will feel comfortable inside the confines of the off-road box on wheels.

As you're likely aware, improvised explosive devices are an ever-increasing threat to the lives of American troops serving overseas. The Humvee, which traces its design all the way back to the year 1984 when it first saw duty as a replacement for the long-running series of military Jeeps, has seen a number of incarnations over the years that added armor and improved safety, but the latest version may feature something hitherto unseen: a chimney.

No, not a chimney like the one that peeks out of your house. This chimney, along with a V-shaped hull, serves to channel explosive forces up and away from the occupants inside. The structure of the chimney also serves to reinforce the vehicle, connecting its floor with its roof. Other advancements include a new set of doors that open up like barn doors, seats designed to absorb shocks and a sling that promises to lower the gunner into the vehicle in the event of a blast.

Read more about the vehicle here, and be sure to scroll down for the illustration.

Report: Pentagon report says U.S. pays $400/gal for gas in Afghanistan [w/video]

Fed up with the price of gas? We feel your pain. Depending on what state you live in, gas is likely to be found for somewhere between three and four dollars per gallon - and make no mistake, that figure is enough to amount to a sizable chunk of the average American's monthly paycheck.

A new Pentagon report obtained by The Wall Street Journal suggests that American motorists should consider themselves lucky to have such affordable fuel: U.S. military operations stationed in Afghanistan are paying a lot more than that... up to $400 per gallon of fuel delivered to troops on the ground - 100 times what we are asked to shell out. Yikes.

The astronomical cost of fuel is due in part to how it must be delivered: by parachute. Huge military cargo planes operated by the Air Force fly to a remote drop zone and send dozens of pallets to the ground, containing items like food, water and, of course, fuel.

There's more bad news. Due to the dangers of setting up ground-based supply convoys, the military fully expects that air-drops will be increasingly necessary in the coming months and years. And that means our military's fuel bill is only going to get more and more expensive.

Check out a couple of video reports explaining the issue after the break.

Continue reading Pentagon report says U.S. pays $400/gal for gas in Afghanistan [w/video]

Video: AdSpotting: Jeep Wrangler Call of Duty: MW3 Special Edition [w/poll]

Company: Chrysler

Brand: Jeep

Medium: Multimedia

Ad Agency: Global Hue

Product: Jeep Wrangler Call of Duty: MW3 Special Edition

Campaign: "Toughest Vehicle in the World."

What We Like: Not all of us are video gamers. But there is apparently a big overlap between Jeep Wrangler buyers and those who worship the most popular video game franchise on the planet: Call of Duty. Jeep's latest ad campaign puts the Wrangler back in the franchise's latest installment, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, which went on sale today. This is a sequel to last year's successful partnership between Jeep and Call of Duty: Black Ops. The TV and web advertisements for this new campaign work like trailers for Modern Warfare 3, while the billboard and print ads carry through the look and feel of the Call of Duty world.

Given the Wrangler's history when it comes to warfare, especially World War II, this co-branding is a natural fit. If you are a gamer, it's cool. And even if you aren't a gamer, it looks pretty neat and gives Jeep an alternative environment (apart from mountains and streams) to place the Wrangler. We especially like the copy line in the print ads that says on one page, "Toughest Vehicle in the World," and on the second page, "The Toughest Vehicle in any World."

What We Don't Like: Unless video games that take place amidst warfare aren't your cup of tea, there's not much to criticize here. We can potentially see some of the more environment-loving Jeep enthusiast base not cottoning to the warfare association, but that's probably not enough to get them out of their Wranglers anyway.

Strategy: Zounds! According to numbers supplied by Chrysler, nine million people play Call of Duty every night. That's a bigger audience than those watch Bill O'Reilly and Rachel Maddow combined. This is a slam-dunk deal for Jeep, and the company extends into the real world with a special edition Call of Duty: MW3 Wrangler that sells at a price premium and is over-sold.

Grade: A

View Poll

Continue reading AdSpotting: Jeep Wrangler Call of Duty: MW3 Special Edition [w/poll]

Infographic: The ins and outs of owning a tank

Tanks are a unique form of wheeled transportation. Performance is measured not in terms of speed or quickness, but how much destruction a tank can dish out and absorb in return. Tanks played a huge role in the first and second World Wars, but in our modern age of unmanned drone warfare and undetectable teams of special operators, these iron-sided bears have become to military aficionados what a Duesenberg is to a classic car collector. And thus, owning your own tank may be as attractive a proposition to you as putting an MG in your garage.

This infographic is a good primer for tank ownership, and includes such information as where to buy one, how much you can expect to pay, and the legal requirements you'll need to meet before you can call yourself the proud owner of a weapon of tracked destruction. You'll also be in good company, as the infographic cites a number of other known tank owners, including novelist Tom Clancy, which makes perfect sense when you think about it. Follow the jump to see the infographic from top to bottom.

Continue reading Infographic: The ins and outs of owning a tank

SEMA: Xtreme Outfitters Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Call of Duty: Black Ops is charitably awesome

The standard Jeep Wrangler Call of Duty: MW3 Special Edition is an impressive piece of machinery by any standard, but if you're looking for something with a little more bite, Xtreme Outfitters may have what you're looking for. The company has created a custom Wrangler just for the Army Rangers. The stock drivetrain was pulled in favor of a Burnsville 5.7-liter Hemi V8 conversion paired to a five-speed automatic transmission while the standard axles were scrapped for a Dana 44 front and Dana 60 rear from Dynatrac. A TeraFlex four-inch long arm kit with provides a little extra lift, while Fox 2.0 performance shocks ensure that this Wrangler can soak up whatever terrain you decided to conquer.

Smittybilt provided a set of XRC armor fenders, an SRC stinger bumper and a rear XRC bumper with an adjustable tire mount, some of which have been decorated with shots from a 9mm pistol. Xtreme Outfitters also worked with BMF for a set of pre-production Novakane 17x9-inch wheels.

Inside, the Wrangler uses custom lighting from Rigid Lighting and Katzkin custom two-tone leather seats embroidered with the Ranger logo. Xtreme Outfitters has donated the Wrangler to the Army Rangers to be auctioned off to benefit veteran Rangers. Raffle tickets are $25 a piece, and you can enter as many times as you like. Xtreme Outfitters says that the total build tallies up to around $150,000, though all of the decommissioned firearms spread around the cabin aren't part of the deal. Head over to the Rangers site for more information.

U.S. military considers replacing Humvee with diesel hybrid L-ATV

The battle-tested AM General Hummer is on its way out and it's time to bid farewell to the aging military vet.

In the Humvee's place could step the L-ATV. The Wisconsin-built Light Combat Tactical All-Terrain Vehicle is built by Oshkosh Defense. Powered by a diesel-electric hybrid powertrain, the The L-ATV appears capable of traversing nearly any type of terrain.

The L-ATV is highly armored, can accept multiple armor configurations and has nearly unmatched off-road capabilities. Oshkosh's proprietary TAK-4i independent suspension system offers an impressive 20 inches of suspension travel at each wheel, which Oshkosh says is 25 percent more than any vehicle currently in use by the U.S. military.

While drivers of the L-ATV probably have more pressing issues to consider than the vehicle's carbon emissions, they no doubt don't want to be stranded by a vehicle that runs out of fuel deep in enemy territory. That's one reason why the L-ATV's diesel hybrid powertrain make sense (there are others). So, as the aging Humvee retires from active duty, do you think it will be the diesel hybrid L-ATV that takes over?

Video: Jeremy Clarkson reviews M12 FAV Warthog from Halo... sort of

We're convinced that Forza Motorsport is out to take over the universe. With the racing simulator's only real competitor, Gran Turismo, sucking wind, the title is kicking in teeth and taking what it wants. An example, you ask? Not only will Forza 4 feature the M12 FAV Warthog from Halo, the combat vehicle will receive an introduction from none other than Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear fame. How's that for a few of your favorite worlds colliding? Word has it that the Warthog isn't the only vehicle that will receive the Jezza treatment, as the game's Autovista mode will introduce players to a wide variety of new metal.

Clarkson approaches the imaginary attack vehicle with his typical sarcasm and snark, which results in the kind of hilarity that we've come to know and love from the portly presenter and columnist. Hit the jump to check out the video for yourself, and cruise on over to the Forza site for more information on Forza 4.

Continue reading Jeremy Clarkson reviews M12 FAV Warthog from Halo... sort of

Video: Proof the National Guard will do anything to save you in a flood

The Army National Guard serves an important role in disaster relief. When called upon, members of the service leave their families at a moment's notice, pack up and head into the thick of the worst that mother nature has to offer. In the case of the recent flooding in New York, New Jersey and Vermont, that means going above, beyond, and sometimes below the call of duty, er, waterline. From the looks of things, the soldiers in the video after the jump are in the process of rescuing residents - or at least attempting to rescue residents - in Manville, NJ who failed to heed flood evacuation warnings.

Though we aren't huge military vehicle buffs, we'd say it looks like two Deuces braving severely flooded New Jersey streets. Big points to the videographer who simply stands by and insults the service members out to help him instead of actually warning the soldiers that the waters get deeper farther down the road. Class act.

Hit the jump to check out the video for yourself.

Continue reading Proof the National Guard will do anything to save you in a flood

Video: FPS Russia takes an armored troop carrier through a drive thru

Internet and YouTube phenom FPS Russia - no, he's not really Russian and yes, his accent, though amusing, is fake - tends to go a little bit overboard at times. He loves guns and blowing things up, and the bigger the boom it makes, the better.

So, when it came time to take a little trip into town to pick up some lunch at McDonalds, our man decided that nothing less than an armored troop carrier would suffice. And not just any old military machine would do. FPS Russia's armored ride has nothing less than a .50 caliber machine gun mounted up top from which to shoot unsuspecting watermelons.

We should warn you that there's plenty of watermelon violence in the video after the break, as well as some potentially NSFW language. That said, enjoy the carnage after the break.

Continue reading FPS Russia takes an armored troop carrier through a drive thru